John Burkoff on Orie Trial Evidence

Published September 24, 2014

Professor John Burkoff explained why a prosecution witness testified that he was especially nervous doing political work for State Sen. Jane Orie after another state lawmaker was convicted for similar activity. In an interview in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Professor Burkoff said that awareness of the other lawmaker’s conviction would put other politicians on notice that doing political work on state time violated the law. ”If the jurors get the idea this has happened before… then other (legislators) should be aware you can’t do this,” Burkoff said.